The Wedding Ring

I needed to get an MRI done on my back.
I have had an MRI done twice before many years ago.
One was an open MRI and one was closed.
This latest one was a closed MRI.

I am not claustrophobic.
Small spaces usually do not bother me.
I remembered my experience before and knew that I could do it again.
Probably.

I got to the facility fifteen minutes beforehand.
There was the obligatory paperwork to fill out.
There was the insurance card to give.
There were the instructions to remove anything that is made of metal.

The anniversary ring came off.
The mother’s ring came off.
My watch came off; though my earrings could stay in my ears.
However my wedding band was another story.

That ring has been on my finger for thirty-two years.
I never take it off.
It is not a superstitious notion; I don’t leave it there for sentimental reasons.
I really cannot get it off my finger.

It is not tight.
It spins around easily on my ring finger.
It is just that it cannot get over my knuckle.
I can remove it if I put my hand in ice water, but that is terribly uncomfortable for me.

This ring has been on for thirty-two years, I told the woman at the desk.
I really don’t think it will come off, without a lot of work.
She asked another woman who asked another woman.
It was determined that my ring could stay on my finger.

I sat in a waiting room all alone until I was called.
I pondered.

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him…” But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. (Genesis 2:18-24)

And my ring will not come off.

We stood before family and friends and made a covenant.
The covenant my husband and I entered into on that October day still stands.
It stands through good times and bad, through sickness and health.
It stands on those days when it is easy; it stands on those days when it is difficult.

In this disposable society of new and better, a covenant means nothing.
It is haphazardly made and easily broken.
It is the wedding celebration more than the wedding vows.
It is thinking of this moment, not considering a lifetime commitment.

A covenant means so much more.
It is made before God, with Him as the witness.
It is pledging your life to another, for the good of another, forsaking all others.
It is unbreakable.

And my ring would not come off.

I went into the MRI twirling that ring around my finger.
When I thought of the doughnut hole I was entering, I began to breathe a little faster.
This is when having Scripture tucked away in your heart is so important.
A flood of Scripture came to mind, Scripture that I kept saying to myself.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.

Lead me, Father.
Help me lie down in this green pasture.
Quiet me.
Restore me.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.

Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.
Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.
Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.
You are with me.

I lay there repeating that verse to myself.
A peace washed over me as I twirled my wedding ring around my finger.

My mind wandered for a minute as I focused on the noises of the MRI machine.
My mind wandered as I wondered how much longer I would need to be in there.
My heart beat faster.
My breathing got a bit faster.

OK, I’m seeing movement, a voice from the other room said to me.
Get your breathing regular.
Lie still.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23)

Much better.
You’re halfway done.

God and I got through the MRI together.

Thank you, Father. Just like I made a covenant thirty-two years ago to never leave my husband, You made a covenant before the creation of the world to never leave or forsake me.

You’re all finished, I heard, as I twirled my wedding ring around my finger.